On 17 September 2025, the Hong Kong government announced that it will conduct a review of the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) to ensure that the city’s arbitration framework remains aligned with international best practice. The announcement was made by Chief Executive Mr John Lee during his annual policy address to the Legislative Council, where he noted that the government intends to “step up promotion of Hong Kong’s arbitration services, while studying the need to amend” the Arbitration Ordinance.
While no timetable for the review has yet been announced, it is anticipated that the process will involve public consultation. The current Arbitration Ordinance, which came into effect in 2011, has been periodically updated to reflect emerging developments in arbitration practice. Notable amendments have included provisions enabling the enforcement of emergency arbitrator orders, confirming the arbitrability of intellectual property disputes and allowing third-party funding and outcome-related fee structures in arbitration proceedings.
The Ordinance is based largely on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, a framework adopted in 127 jurisdictions worldwide, including other major common law arbitration centres such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore. Hong Kong continues to play a leading role in global arbitration.
According to the Queen Mary University of London 2025 International Arbitration Survey (The Path Forward: Realities and Opportunities in Arbitration), Hong Kong ranks as the most popular seat in the Asia-Pacific region and joint second globally, alongside Singapore. The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre reported a record number of cases and highest-ever amount in dispute in its 2024 statistics, reaffirming its position as the most preferred arbitral institution in the Asia-Pacific and second worldwide (tied with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre).
Any forthcoming amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance will therefore be closely monitored by arbitration practitioners and users in Hong Kong, across the Asia-Pacific region and in other Model Law jurisdictions, given their potential influence on global arbitration practice.
Although the timeline for Hong Kong’s legislative review has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to follow the consultative approach adopted prior to the introduction of the current 2011 Ordinance. The initiative underscores Hong Kong’s ongoing commitment to remaining at the forefront of international arbitration.
<span class="news-text_medium">Source:</span> <a href="https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/Link/Document/Blob/I8155aca7979211f0a6fc90e599a2d03e.pdf?targetType=PLC-multimedia&originationContext=document&transitionType=DocumentImage&uniqueId=530a8602-690e-433d-9a1e-6ef4a779cee3&ppcid=039256b69afb4808ace52e190b630095&contextData=(sc.Search)&comp=pluk" target="_blank" class="news-text_link">The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China: The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address</a> (17 September 2025).
